Belt-stretcher



(No Model.)

G. M. PARSNEAU.

BELT STRETGHER.

N0.553,788. PatentedJan.28, .18 96.

AN DREW ILGRAHAM PHOTO LITNQWASNINGTOKL UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEB GEORGE M. PARSNEAU, OF ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

BELT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,788, dated January 28, 1896. Application filed October 9, 1895. Serial No. 565,169. (170 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. PARSNEAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Cloud, in the county of Stearns and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to belt-stretching devices, and has for its object to provide anv improved construction in that class of implements in which a rack-bar and lever are employed, whereby the parts may be materially simplified. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved and novel construction of the devices for clamping the belt preparatory to being stretched, whereby provision may be made for belts of any width.

These objects I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the reverse side to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line so a, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4c is a section on line y y, Fig. 2.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes a lever pivotally connected near one end to the draft-bar 2, the latter having a bracket 3 extending around the outer side of said lever and also receiving the pivot-pin to afford a firmer bearing. The bar 2 has attached thereto on either side of the leverpivot point the clip 4 for loosely embracing a belt-stretching ratchet-bar 5 having teeth on both longitudinal edges along the greater portion of its length. Suitable weighted pawls G, pivoted to the lever on the side 0pposite to the bracket 3, are adapted to engage with the teeth on the ratchet-bar to move it longitudinally along the bar 2 when said lever is vibrated.

At their free outer ends the bar 2 and the ratchet-bar 5 are provided with the rightangle extension 7, as shown. Each of these extensions is provided at its center with an elongated aperture 8 adapted to receive the hooked ends of two belt-clamps hereinafter described. The extensions are also provided at each outer end with the smaller apertures 0, each adapted to receive the hooked end of one of said belt-clamps.

Referring now to Fig. 3, wherein is shown in detail one of said belt-clamps, it will be seen that it is composed of the body portion 10 having the bent and curved hooked end 11. At the other end the body portion is also bent sharply at a right angle to the main portion thereof, then bent back again into substantiallya U shape, as at 12, the free end of this U being rounded to form a bearing for the eccentric clamp-plate 13, provided with a suitable handle for manipulating the same. The meeting faces of the eccentric clampplate and the clamp proper are serrated to aiford a firmer grip on the belt.

It will be understood that these clamps are rights and lefts, two of them being used at each end of the device.

From the above description the operation of my device will be seen to be as follows: Then it is desired to tighten a belt of narrow width, the two clamps at the ends of the bars 2 and 5 are hooked into the central aperture 8 and are clamped to the edges of the belt, as shown in Fig. 1. Now upon vibrating the lever 1 the pawls 6, alternately engaging with the ratchet-teeth in the rod 5, will move the latter longitudinally along the rod 2, thus drawing the clamps together and efiectually stretching the belt ready for fastening or other manipulation. The eccentric construction of the clamp-plates 13 will provide a firmer grip on the belt the harder the pull is thereon.

lVhere a wide belt is to be stretched the clamps are hooked into the outer apertures 9 in the extensions '7, thus materially Widening the space between each pair. Moreover, by reason of the hooked connection between the clamps and the extensions 7 abelt somewhat wider even than the space between the clamps can be manipulated, as the latter will turn somewhat at their points of connection with the extension to accommodate themselves to the width of the belt.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In abelt-stretcher, the combination with two bars, and means for longitudinally moving said bars with respect to each other, of

right and left belt-clamps detachably connected by their hook ends to the free ends of said bars and consisting each of the body portion 10, having the hook ends 11, and bent at their free ends into a U-shaped portion 12, carrying the eccentric clamp-plate 13, said clamp-plate being adapted to clamp the belt between it and the serrated surface of said U-sha'ped portion near its point of departure from said body portion 10, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a belt-stretcher, the combination. with two bars, and means for longitudinally moving said bars with respect to each other, said bars being each provided at their free ends with an elongated central aperture and two end apertures, of a series of right and left belt-clamps adapted to be removably hooked into said apertures to provide for clamping belts of dilferent widths, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a belt-stretcher, the combination with two bars and means for moving said bars longitudinally with respect to each other said bars being provided at their free ends with right-angle extensions having each an elongated central apertnre and two end apertures, of a series of right and left belt-clamps con sisting each of a body portion, a hooked end, a U-shaped portion formed at a right angle to the other end, and a pivoted clamp'piece in said U shaped end, the said clamp adapted to be reinovably hooked into the apertures in the extension, substantially as shown and described.

4. A beltstretchcr consisting of the draftbar 2, the ratchet-bar 5, the lever l pivotally secured to said draft-bar 2 and carrying the pawls (5, and the clamps consisting of the body portion 10, the curved hoods 11, the U- shaped portion 12 and eccentric plate 13, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereto al'lix niy-signature in the presence of two witnesses,

GEORGE M. IARSNIJAU.

\Vitncsscs:

IIOMER A. McKnNzIE, HOWARD MCKENZIE. 

